No, impartial journalists are what is needed on TV and Radio….Dunseath, a lapsed Prod is enough of bias already against Unionism, without activist Shinners joining him.

I’m asking a question rather than necessarily answer it Nick – but I actually don’t think he does. He calls thing as someone who is playing the role of ‘impartial commentator’ sees them – but his background colours sometimes show through. I’d like the BBC to have a range of different political correspondents – and for them to be more ‘reporter’ than ‘commentator’. The role of ‘official political commentator’ is may be worth reviewing?

The phrase “really see them” is telling. Are you saying that Nick Robinson doesn’t call things as he “really” sees them?

Impartiality and diversity do go together. But the key point about impartiality is that is an attempt to be rational and build judgments on fact rather than on prejudice.

The main difference between the newspapers and the broadcasters in this country is that the broadcasters are more rational, or at least try to be.

The question to ask is not “is the journalist impartial?”, but rather “is the journalism?”